The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, ordered that enslaved people living in rebellious territories be released from the bonds of ownership and made free people—their own masters. Though the proclamation's initial impact was limited, the order was true to the etymology of emancipation, which comes from a Latin word combining the prefix e-, meaning "away," and mancipare, meaning "to transfer ownership of.”
a book discussing the role that the emancipation of slaves played in the nation's history
Recent Examples on the WebThe anticipation of Watch Night, designated the eve of emancipation awaiting the news of freedom, did not come as news of freedom did not reach Texas until six months later.—Jessica B. Harris, Southern Living, 13 May 2024 In addition, there’s been a concerted effort to broaden the pursuit with issues of emancipation and enfranchisement and the effects of slavery, giving screen time to Black characters and causes, rather than allowing this to be merely the story of one white man chasing another.—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for emancipation
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'emancipation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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